One of China’s leading squid-fishing firms has launched two more new vessels, adding to eight others it added to its fleet earlier this year.
Launched at the weekend, the "Lu Rong 901" and the "Lu Rong 902" are the latest launches for the Chishan Group, which is based in the key processing region of Rongcheng and boasts an annual squid fishing capacity of 80,000 tons.
The two new vessels will join operations in the Indian Ocean and in the South Atlantic, with the catch shipped back to China and on to buyers in Europe and the U.S. Chishan Group boasts of having more than 8,000 staff worldwide and 20 subsidiaries in processing, real estate, and finance. The firm claims to be the best-equipped in the trade, with the most modern vessels and gear, according to the firm's mission statement.
Aside from 50 trawlers (including 10 “line and bait” vessels), Chishan Group operates two reefers servicing its fleets off Argentina and Peru.
“We cover the three big oceans … and export to 20 countries,” a statement on the company’s website said.
In October 2019, the Chishan Group was named a key contributor to the development of China’s global domination of the distant-water squid fishing sector at a banquet in Zhoushan. The other company given that honor was the Shidao Group, also based in Shandong. China currently has 2,700 trawlers operating under its flag, but despite recent growth in that number, the Chinese government has vowed to cap its distant-water fleet at 3,000 vessels.
